AGBO, the production company run by Avengers directors Joe and Anthony Russo, is making a significant push into the field of artificial intelligence, hiring Dr. Dominic Hughes as chief science officer.
In his new role, Hughes will “collaborate with AGBO's internal storytelling and innovation teams to drive the
development and implementation of AI technologies to enrich the creative process,” the company says.
Hughes is an expert in artificial intelligence and machine learning and was previously the co-founder and chief scientist of the personalized audio news app Swell, which was acquired by Apple in 2014. At Apple he led the design and implementation of artificial intelligence models and linguistic. for Apple News. He received his PhD from the University of Oxford and works as a visiting scholar at UC Berkley.
He joins AGBO at a time when the entertainment industry at large is grappling with the emergence of advanced generative artificial intelligence technologies. Visual effects and similar areas have already been disrupted by technology, and the company suggests that Hughes will help it understand where it can develop or use proprietary, third-party or public AI technology.
AGBO creative director Angela Russo-Otstot says that with a company built around writers, directors and crew, she was “determined to ensure that new technologies are developed by the creative community. We are excited to work with Dr. Hughes to develop tools and processes that will allow our artists to be more precise, more streamlined, and even more creative.”
“The entertainment industry is evolving at breakneck speed, and we have never felt so energized by the possibilities,” said AGBO co-presidents and partners Anthony and Joe Russo. “At AGBO, we are relentlessly focused on a creativity-driven approach to technology and innovation. Working in tandem with our writers, directors, crew members and technicians, Dr. Hughes will help us imagine new ways to empower artists to tell their boldest and most ambitious stories.
“This is an exciting time to be collaborating with visionary creatives to develop the next generation of film technology,” adds Hughes. “AGBO's long-standing approach of adopting and adapting technologically advanced filmmaking techniques positions it well for this age of discovery. I look forward to working with their diverse range of creatives to develop artist-driven AI-based solutions that will help shape the future of storytelling.”